How to Type Faster

Get familiar with the keyboard. Most keyboards are arranged in the same pattern, called QWERTY, which is arranged in a sequence of letters arranged first from the left. Many keyboards have different key arrangements for other purposes.

• Most keyboard keys are used to enter the corresponding characters they display into the text area. Try opening a file and pressing all the keys to see what they do.
• Memorize basic letter placement and punctuation. You’ll need to know exactly where the keys are without looking at the keyboard, so you can type faster.

Place your hands in the correct position. To type quickly, you need to place your hands and fingers in a specific initial position, this is where the fingers will return at breaks. Your hands should be slightly tilted. That is, the right hand is tilted to the left at an angle of about 45 degrees, and the left hand is tilted to the right at an angle of 45 degrees. ^[2] In short, your hand should be slightly bent from the wrist, and your fingers should rest on the home row of the keyboard. ^[3] The home row that you need to put your hand first includes the following keys:

• The left index finger rests on the F key and is responsible for typing the keys: F, C, V, G, T, and 6.
• The left middle finger rests on the D key and is responsible for the keys: D, R, 5, and X.
• The ring finger of the left hand rests on the S key and is responsible for the keys: Z, E, 4, and 3.
• The left little finger is placed on the A key and is responsible for the keys: A, , Caps Lock, 2, 1, W, Q, Tab. Shift, and Ctrl.
• The right index finger rests on the J key and is responsible for the keys: 6, 7, U, J, N, M, H, Y, and B.
• The middle finger of the right hand rests on the K key and is responsible for the keys: K, I, 8, and comma.
• The right ring finger rests on the L key and is responsible for the keys: L, dot, O, and 9.
• The little finger of the right hand rests on the semicolon (;) key and is responsible for the keys: semicolon, P, /, 0, ‘, -, =, [, ], #, Shift, Enter, Backspace, and Ctrl.
• Left and right thumbs placed on the Space bar.

Close your eyes and say the key name out loud when you press it. A good way to remember where the keys are without looking is to just look at the screen, pronouncing each letter as you type. This helps you memorize key positions. Continue the process until you no longer feel the need to read each letter out loud. ^[4]

Measure typing speed. There are many ways to measure typing speed, usually counting words per minute WPM (words per minute). The easiest way is to Google and type “what’s my WPM”, hit one of the first links to take the test.

• Use the first score you get as a benchmark to continue to improve later.
• Sometimes you’ll see scores measured in WAM (words a minute), not WPM. Actually there is no difference between these two terms.
• Remember that WPM scores are measured over a set period of time. Typing more or less the time given will change your WPM, so be consistent with your chosen test and come back to check your progress after a period of practice.

Start slowly. The problem with fast typing is that you have to steadily develop your skills, and 10-finger typing (typing without looking) is the fastest way to type if you master it. If you’ve never typed 10 fingers before, you’ll need to spend some time getting used to it. But once you can type without looking at the keys, the speed improves dramatically. ^[5]

• This typing method will be quite strange at first, but with patience and practice, you will improve.
• Try to limit the range of finger movement to only the keys it needs to type.

Stick to the exercise routine and don’t look down at your hands. It’s important to avoid looking at the keyboard to force your fingers to learn the keyboard through repetitive gestures. If your eyes are on the keyboard, cover your hands with a towel.

• You’ll probably find yourself typing even slower at first, but be patient. Once you learn how to type with 10 fingers, you will type faster than using the traditional method. ^[6]

Practice, practice, and practice. Ten-finger typing is quite a delicate skill to master, but once you have the right hand position and correct sitting posture the only way is to practice. Take some time each day to practice typing with 10 fingers and improve your speed and accuracy. Over time, your WPM score will gradually increase.

• If you spend 10 minutes a day opening a document and typing nonstop, you’ll soon find you’re making fewer and fewer mistakes. ^[7]

Practice with online games. There are many websites with typing games that you can practice. These games will score and log your WPM for you, so you can practice to beat your own record or compete against other online players. ^[8]

Practice spelling. If you don’t know how to type, a good practice is to listen while typing. You have tons of content to choose from and make your practice more enjoyable if you choose to listen to an e-book, an online lecture, or a radio show.

• TV shows are also a good choice, expand your imagination and try to make the practice more enjoyable.

Monitor progress. Check your progress and track your scores every week. You will soon notice the progress. But don’t obsess over the WPM metric; Think of the comfort and ease that your fast typing skills give you.

Consider a more serious form of exercise. There are many programs designed to help you type 10 fingers. Most of these programs are courses or games that give you control over speed and accuracy. If you feel like you want to improve your skills faster, consider investing in a program.

• Typing programs are very diverse. There are many free online tutorials, free typing lessons, and paid programs. Some programs are better than others, but all are aimed at improving typing speed.
• In the end, your progress still depends on how long you practice.